Neon tube operating mechanism



March 8, 1955 R. E. DAVIES 2,703,851

NEON TUBE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 23, 1951 n nn!! INVENTOR. fly. 1 .E/Cf/HRDE Dar/5.

UMM SAM ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,703,851 NEON TUBE OPERATING MECHANISM Richard E. Davies, Williams, Ariz., assignor to Cleon Products, Inc., Phoenix, Ariz.

Application August 23, 1951, Serial No. 243,269

Claims. (Cl. 315-226) This invention pertains to neon tube operating mechanism, and is particularly directed to improved apparatus for progressively illuminating and extinguishing a neon tube with novel operating mechanism which pagticularly protects the power transformer for the neon tu e.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved and simplified operating mechanism for progressively lighting and extinguishing a neon tube.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved control switch gear for progressively lighting and extinguishing a neon tube in which there are a minimum of operating parts and mechanical mechanisms utilized.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved operating control mechanism for a neon tube circuit which includes a shock tube or other de vice for maintaining at all times a minimum load on thg secondary winding of the transformer for the neon 11.1 e.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for progressively illuminating difierent lengths of a neon tube then extinguishing said tube either progressively or instantaneously while at the same time protecting the operation and efl'iciency of the power transformer for the neon tube.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a simplified and improved control apparatus for successively illuminating different portions of a neon tube to give the effect of a rise and fall of the light in the tube from zero to maximum and return.

Further features and advantages of this invention will appear from a detailed description of the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a neon tube operating mechanism incorporating the features of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on the line 3-3 of 4 is a fragmentary section on the line 4-4 of 5 is a fragmentary section on the line 5-5 of 6 is a fragmentary section on the line 6-6 of iigifi is a fragmentary section on the line 7-7 of i ig 8 is a fragmentary enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 1 showing the shock tube switch gear utilized in connection therewith.

As illustrative of an embodiment of this invention there is shown in Fig. 1 a neon tube operating mechanism comprising a main frame member 10 to which is fixed a series of insulated supports or pedestals 11 upon which are mounted the contact bars 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 each of which is connected through suitable leads 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 to the neon tube 24 to be controlled. Also mounted on the frame member 10 on suitable journal bearings 25, 26 and 27 carried on insulated supports 28 is the rotating operating shaft 29 which is connected through a suitable insulated coupling 30 to a drive motor 31 preferably mounted on the frame member 10.

Fixed in various rotary indexed positions on the shaft 29, as best seen in Figs. 3 through 7 inclusive, are a series of contacts arms 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41 each terminating in their outer ends in arcuate "ice surfaces 42 which nicely slidingly contact or rotate in very close proximity to the edges 43 of the contact bars 12 through 17 inclusive.

The drive motor 31 is connected through suitable leads 44 to a suitable source of A. C. power supply such as the lines L1 and L2. The lines L1 and L2 are also connected to the primary winding 45 of a high potential transformer 46. The secondary Winding 47 of the transformer 46 has one lead 48 connected to the contact bar 12, and its other lead 49 connected electrically through the journal bearing 25 directly to the rod 29 so that the contact arms 32 through 41 are electrically connected to the lead 49 to the secondary winding 47. With the motor 31 operating and the rod 29 rotating clockwise, in this particular example as indicated. by the arrow 50, contact arm 33 rotates into position with its arcuate surface 42 coming in engagement or electrical contact with the bar 13 so as to then complete a circuit to energize the portion 51 of the neon tube 24 between the leads 18 and 19. Continued rotation of the shaft 29 by the motor 31 then brings contact arm 34 into engagement with contact bar 14 while contact arm 33 leaves contact bar 13 so that the neon tube is then lighted in both portions 51 and 52 between leads l8 and 20 and this procedure continues adding sections 53, 54 and finally section 55 or the completely illuminated tube from section 51 through 55 when contact arm 37 rotates into electrical contact position with the contact bar 17 at the top of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. As contact arm 37 leaves its contact bar 43 contact arm 38 then electrically engages contact bars 16 to thus cut out the upper portion 55 of the neon tube and allow the remaining portion to continue to operate. The neon tube is then progressively extinguished through sections 54, 53 and 52 by progressive contact of the contact arms 39, 40 and 41 with their respective contact bars connected to the neon tube 24 as described.

As contact arm 41 leaves the contact bar 13 a final short-out arm 32 comes into electrical engagement with the bar 12 so as to provide a dead short across the secondary winding 47 of the transformer and thus provide a momentary complete extinguishment of the neon tube 24 after which continued rotation of the rod 29 by the motor 31 again repeats the cycle with contact arm 33 again contacting bar 13 and so on as described.

It is to be clearly noted that in this structure there are no moving mechanical parts other than the simple rotation of the shaft 29 with its contact arms rigidly fixed thereto which rotate by in close proximity to their respective contact bars so that actually there are no wearing or moving surfaces to ever get out of engagement or proper adjustment. Further, by utilizing this system there is no noise whatever involved except the normal rotation of the motor 31 which sound is insignificant so far as the proper adaptation and use of the device is concerned in any type of application. Thus there has been provided a highly efiicient improved and simplified switching gear operating mechanism for progressively lighting and extinguishing a neon tube.

In Fig. 8 is shown a modified circuit for use in conjunction with the neon tube operating mechanism of Fig. l in which the contact arm 32 of Fig. l is mechanically connected as the arm 32a in Fig. 8 to be rotated by the shaft 29 but insulated therefrom by means of a suitable insulating bushing 56 which is drivingly secured to the shaft 29 and in turn rigidly supports the contact arm 32a. An annular contact ring 57 in electrical contact with the arm 32a and carried about the periphery of the insulating bushing 56, is engaged by a suitable contact brush 58, which brush in turn is connected through a lead 59 to a shock tube or other resistor means 60 which in turn is connected through a lead 61 to the lead 49 of the secondary winding 47 of the transformer 46. Thus rotation of the rod 29 and the contact arm 32a maintains electrical contact through the brush 58 and the lead 59 at all times with the shock tube or resistor 60. Thus, as the neon tube 24 is to be finally extinguished by final disconnection of contact arm 41 from the bar 13, contact arm 32a then engages contact bar 12 but in this case instead of creating a dead short across the secondary winding 41- shock tube or resistor 60 is automatically cut in series with the circuit of the secoiida'ry'WifidingM "soils to maifitam an appropriate load at all times on the secondary Wmding even when the ube 4. 1 CO p et ly e-ener z d As the cyc e a a n in w es P o s s h n f 'r' a f rate ss ibed Ha n thus f l e f rth and ams- 1. t is vention what is claimed is:

1. In a neon tube operating mechanism, a frame memher, a "rod rotatably'jq'l rna'ld i'ninsulated 'slup' 'aort's on said frame, a 'drive' meansfor Iotatin'g'said Tod, a plurality'of axially spaced radiiilly'disposed O'rrtz'ict arms fiXed inelect'rical Contact with' said rotatable fod,'a plurality ofbd'ntac't 'ba'r's'mounted 'on insulated "support means n l mm and s abfed a'isially 9 sa d o 'j'in operative" position With" said"c6ntact arms on 'said"ro:d, aneon tube havinga plurality of terminals connected to a series of electrodes spaced 'along its leng'th,and means for connecting each of said terminals tdoneof'said contact' bars, a potential transformer 'having'a'secondary Winding, means permanently for connecting ,one lead from said seed 'dary Winding to 9 3, of said Contact bars andto one end -termin l of said neon tube, and means for connecting theotlier lead of said secondary Windi; g to i od n m ans for 'sk bli 'in adel e' t i a' 1 '0"- ten ial" to a t an fl t ar said driv meaft sa1 rod.

:2. A neon tube operatin me anis mp isin a frame, a rotatable" nod joli'rnaledonsaid frame; a series of radially disposed contacta'rms 'fixed in'aitially spaced positions on and in electrical "0 act with said 'jrqcL'a series of electrical contacjt bar mounted "on said frame in electrical contactable relationship with saidic bnt'ac' t arms, 'a' neon tube having a series 'of'axially spaced termil f i ieq I is it som ms nd term n' l'pr'satci eonitubeto one of said some ars'; and means for connecting the rema nin -er aid terminals to the'remaining contact bars," a highpo: ial transformer, a secondary windi'ng insai'd transffo r,'rn eans"fcj r permanently 'conn'ecti'rig one lead ft n said secondary winding' to the efid'term'inal of said lieontube ai'idto its onnected bar, means for'perrii anentlyponnet ngth'e other of said leads from said s condary wind'ng to said 'jr'qd and to a resistor, means for irisulatively fixing the'cont'a'ct 'arr'n associated with the contacfbai""connected"to said end term nal at said neonitube on saidrdd; irnea ns erid wo for continuously connectingjth e' ether sister to" said insulated mounted cent for rotating said 1,0

3. ATn'eontubelo'pe raftifig mbha isjrri'including' a neon tube having a plurality of axial ly'spaced terminals each connected tofa "series of electrodes spaced along its'ien'gth, a series [of electrical "Contact oneconnecitedflto each of said terminals; a series of may "electric food (it ar bpe iv y' q idn d elat e ac iq sa d 112 .5,

a'high potential transformer, a secondary winding in said transformer, means for permanently connecting one tiiiiifial 6f said "secondary winding -of sa'id" transformer to one of said contact bars and an end terminal of said neon tube, means for permanently connecting the other terminal of said secondary Winding to all of said contact arms, and means for moving said arms relative to said contact bars.

A n on u e o eratin mech n sm c mpris a neon thbe'liavin'g "a plurality of axially spaced terminals qgqec e l t seri of el dss sp e alon its le g h, a srisof electrical co cft bars oneconnjected to each of said terminals; a series 'ofmovableel'ectric contact arms operative ly related to each of said bars, means for simultaneously" moving all of said co'iit'act'arms relative to said bars, means for connecting @1 16 end terminal of said neon tube to one terminal of a secondary Winding of a high potential transformer, means for connecting the n a m l ed t th conta ba onnected to s end "terminalof 'said neon tube connec'ted"toth'e one terminal'of'said s'conda saidtransformer to aresistorfmean's' roman 't ing' theother endfof said re- 7" f 50 .'Q 96 1 'y man r said transformerfmeans'f r'don'necting 's'aid other terminal of said secondary winding of said transformer confiub li' b n Qf t j i'ai h qna t arms an means for connecting a source of alternating current povversupply to said 'ltranstormer and 'to' the means for"movin'g said Contact arms.

' "5. 'In a neon'sign operating mechanism comprising a frame", a"ro'd rotat'ably 'jdli'rnaled on said frame; a drive motor onsaid frame insulatedfron'i ah'dcoup'led to drive said rod, a plurality of contact arms, meansf'forinsulatively'mounti'ng'one of saidfcontact'arnis in'driyen relatidnship on said rodfrneans for" directly electrically connecti ng' anddrivingly"mounting'the remaining of said contact arms"on""'said TddI a "pl11ralityof contact bars mounted on said fratnfin operative -relationship to all of said contact arms, a neon tube having a plurality of terminalseach connected"respectively to "a series of "elecof said teimin'als'to neer I w an and terminal on said'neon' tiibe connected to the'c'o itact bar related to 'said'insulative ly nitii nt'ed'arm, a high potential transformer, a secondary winding in said [transterm-er,mea "rot-"connec ngone end :of said secondary winding to'the contact barassociated with the insulated mountedkontact arm on said'rodfland means for conn'ct-ingthe' other end "of said secondary "winding to said rod so as to be permanently electrically confnected to all of"th"e r'emaining co'ntact" arm's, a resist'or connected el ectrica'llytb said"=rod, and means futbdnnetztin the other end of said resistor to said insulated mounted contact arm; and'n eans for" sfupplyingan electrical potential t5snw anstonnerana saicldrive fmoto'rl 1 References Gited in the file of this patent UNI ED PATENTS 

